FALCONS DOMINATE MONARCHS 5-1
February 12, 2012 - The Springfield Falcons once again bounced back and collected a must-needed victory beating the Manchester Monarchs by a score of 5-1 on Sunday afternoon at the MassMutual Center. The Falcons offense was led by Wade MacLeod, Cam Atkinson and Alexandre Giroux, who all collected one goal and one assist on the afternoon. Paul Dainton turned aside 24 of 25 shots in earning his 6th win of the season.
The Falcons didn't waste any time in taking control of the hockey game as MacLeod converted just 1:48 into the opening frame giving Springfield an early 1-0 lead. The Falcons controlled the play in the first period outshooting Manchester 8-1 and taking some well deserved momentum into the second period.
In the middle frame, the Falcons didn't let up applying pressure on Manchester goaltender Jeff Zatkoff. Just 4:02 into the second period, Atkinson tallied his AHL leading 27th goal of the year on a perfectly executed two on one break with Giroux. The Falcons would expand their lead to 3-0 at 12:48 of the middle stanza when Matt Calvert beat Zatkoff to the left goal post with Calvert stuffing home his 11th marker of the season giving the Birds a three goal cushion heading into the final period.
In the third period, Springfield once again scored early in a period as this time it was Andrew Joudrey converting his eighth goal on the campaign just 2:48 into the stanza putting the Falcons on top 4-0. The score became 5-0 at 9:32 of the third period when Giroux scored his 17th goal of the year giving Springfield a five goal cushion heading into the game's final minutes.
Robert Czarnik broke up Dainton's shutout bid late in regulation, but the Falcons earned a big two points in the standings and evened their record at 23-23-2-2 through 50 games.
Dainton was steady between the pipes making multiple keys saves in the second period, including a pair of glove stops during a Manchester four minute power play.
Manchester Monarchs 1 at Springfield Falcons 5 - Status: Final
Sunday, February 12, 2012 - MassMutual Center
Manchester 0 0 1 - 1
Springfield 1 2 2 - 5
1st Period-1, Springfield, MacLeod 4 (Amadio, Bogosian), 1:48. Penalties-Mullen Mch (hooking), 3:47; St. Pierre Spr (high-sticking), 3:47; Johnson Mch (holding), 6:52; Atkinson Spr (hooking), 6:58; Cullity Spr (cross-checking, holding), 13:44.
2nd Period-2, Springfield, Atkinson 27 (Giroux, St. Pierre), 4:02. 3, Springfield, Calvert 11 (Mayorov), 12:48. Penalties-Hudson Mch (holding), 1:42; Goloubef Spr (interference), 4:47.
3rd Period-4, Springfield, Joudrey 8 (MacLeod, Ruth), 2:48. 5, Springfield, Giroux 17 (St. Pierre, Atkinson), 9:32. 6, Manchester, Czarnik 7 (Vey, Kolomatis), 18:52 (PP). Penalties-Kozun Mch (tripping), 0:55; Mayorov Spr (tripping), 2:33; Deslauriers Mch (fighting), 14:47; Prout Spr (fighting), 14:47; Legein Mch (interference, misconduct - unsportsmanlike conduct), 16:24; Kubalik Spr (hooking), 18:41.
Shots on Goal-Manchester 1-14-10-25. Springfield 8-8-9-25.
Power Play Opportunities-Manchester 1 / 6; Springfield 0 / 4.
Goalies-Manchester, Zatkoff 15-10-1 (25 shots-20 saves). Springfield, Dainton 6-3-0 (25 shots-24 saves).
A-2,896
Referees-Mark Lemelin (41), Chris Brown (86).
Linesmen-Rich Patry (52), Frank Murphy (29).
SUNDAY'S LINEUP
Alex Giroux - Martin St. Pierre - Cam Atkinson
Matt Calvert - Andrew Joudrey - Maksim Mayorov
Dane Byers - Cody Bass - Tomas Kubalik
Aaron Bogosian - Ryan Garlock - Wade MacLeod
Patrick Cullity - Theo Ruth
Cody Goloubef - Greg Amadio
Brent Regner- Dalton Prout
Paul Dainton
Manny Legace
Not dressed: Adam Mair (Injured), Anton Blomqvist, Brett Motherwell, Nick Holden (Injured), Tim Spencer, Mark Dekanich (Injured), Chris D'Alvise, Nick Drazenovic (Injured)
